System for protecting electric-current-distributing nets against temporary interruptions



M. HCHSTDTER.

SYSTEM FOR PROTECTTNGELECTBIC CURRENT DISTRIRUTTNG NETS AGMNST TEMPORARY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN HOCHSTADTER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO N. V. LYN-PROCTECTIE TOT ELOETATE VAN ELECTRO-TECHNISCHE EN ANDERE OCT- VOOIEN, OF THE I-IAGUE, NETHERLANDS,- A DU'TH CORPORATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application filed October 20, 1914. Serial No. 867,683. n

To all w kom t may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN HocrrsTADrEn, a subject of the German Emperor, rmiding at 186 Kurfrstendamm, Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Sys-Y tems for Protecting Electric-Current-Distributing Nets Against Temporary Interruptions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel system for protecting electric current distributing nets against temporary interruptions of current supply in case the insulation of part of such net has become defective. For this purpose the faulty branch is immediately and automatically severed at both of its terminals from the remainder of the net so that the defect is localized and the defective net .portion may be readily ascertained without an interruption of the current supply'and without requiringtedious investigations. In this way, the faultyy branch only is disconnected, the operation bein@` such that this disconnection takes place while the defectis starting, t'. e., prior to a complete destruction of the insulation and prior to the formation of a short circuit.

Vith the systems' heretofore generally known, the disconnect-ion kof the defective branch is obtained only after the completion of a heavy short circuit, whilesmaller but gradually growing defects of the insulation which may not terminate in a short circuit remain frequently unnoticed for a consid` erable length of time, which smaller defects are nevertheless extremely dangerous for the entire net andthe apparatus connected therewith owing to the formation of sparks, traveling waves of high tension and high frequency. These prior systems have furthermore the disadvantage that they require additional conductors and apparatus for disconnecting purposes which considerably weaken the entire net and may be the cause of otherwise unnecessary disconnections in caseof defects of such conductors and apparatus, the latter remarks referring more particularly to the large number of current and voltage transformers and choking devices which are interpolated with these systems between thehigh tension .conductors and the ground.

branches,

As furthermore these known control devices remain frequently inoperative for months or even years and as their readiness for operation cannot readily be ascertained it is obvious that they may utterly fail at the moment when their operativeness is most required.

With the present invention, all of the above enumerated disadvantages are effectively overcome. My invention belongs to that class of protective systems for electric networks of mains in which there is provided for each main conductor of a branch, an equipotential control conductor, it being immaterial whether or not and to what degree both of said conductors participate in the current. distribution. It is preferred, however, that one of the cordinate conductors have a greater resistance than the other.

ln the following description, one of the conductors will be termed main conductor while the other, usually weaker, conductor will be called control conductor. It is however, obvious that the control conductor may have dimensions and electrical properties, equal to those of the main conductor. Generally the e-quipotentiality between main conductor and control conductor is warranted by metallic connections at the ends of the several but the same may be obtained electrostatically sufficient, in case the control conductor is located in closest proximity to the main conductor.

Between the main conductor and its equipotential control conductor, a potential or voltage displacement is eected that is confined substantially between the limits of the normal ifoltage drop caused by the current load. T his potential displacement is generally brought into a certain dependence upon the current load of the branch. The control conductor or both the main and control conductors are provided with mechanisms which are maintained in equilibrium by the potential displacement between the main conductor and control conductor during normal operation. If` however, the electrical status of the main conductor of a branch. becomes defective, owing toa fault in the insulation or operation, the

potential displacement between the main con-v ductor and control conductor of said branch disconnecting secondary coil k2 forms part of the control conductor b. The secondary coils h2 are preferably so connected or wound that their voltages are directed opposite each other. In this case, uniform potential difference e exists between the main conductor and the control conductor. At the connecting lines between the transformers 7L and the points 7c both conductors have of course the same potential. A

y As above stated, it is assumed that the secondary coils h2 of the transformers h act against each other. lt is however, also possible that the secondary tensions of the transformers act cumulatively, in which case thel line Z1 would assume a different course relatively to'line c1.V But in both instances, the'course of the potential between the main conductor and the control conductor may be readily predetermined.

With the above diagrams as illustrated in Figs. l to 3 it is assumed that the potential of the main conductor is not appreciably influenced by the control conductor, z'. e., that no. perceivable reaction upon the main conductor takes place. This radvantage is obtained in the simplest manner by using a control conductor of small cross section, such as a test conductor. In this case the'instruments, such as the transformers It, may be extremely small and 'may' in many instances, not exceed the sizeof test transformers.

- It is of course possible to still further influence the resistance conditions of the control conductor relatively to the main conductor by providing resistances at the ends of the control conductor, by'means of which the potential displacement between the main conductor and the control conductor may be varied. l

For obtaining the above described results, a conveniently shaped control conductor may. be arranged inclose proximity to the main conductor, but preferably an insulated small portion of the main conductor strands may be used for this purpose.

Hereinabove it has been described in which way the course of the current v'and potential of a control conductor may be varied in conformity with the electric conditions of the coperativemain conductor. If suitable release apparatus or switches are interpolated in the control conductor or control conductor and main conductor, these apparatus may be soadjusted relatively to the potential displacement that equilibrium exists during normal working conditions and the switches are not actuated. Whenever this equilibrium is disturbed owing to a change of the electric conditions of the main conductor, the current and voltage conditions existing in the control conductor together with the potential displacement between both conductors .are altered in Such e manner that the releasing apparatus are actuated to disconnect the correspondingJ branch from the remainder of the net.

The selection of suitable releasing organs depends upon the potential displacement and its influence upon the current conditions of the control conductor. Generally it is of advantage to produce the potential displacement in such a manner that there exists within the control conductor and in the releasing organs, an equilibrium which is independent of the varying load of the main conductor. lf for instance with the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the main conductor t becomes grounded, at any place, owing to defective linsulation, the normal current flow from the leftvtoward the right will stop andthe current will pass from both ends 7c toward the defective spot.` Owing to the thus altered influencev of the main conductor upon the control conductor, the course of the tension line d1, e., the potential displacement between the main conductor and the control conductor isaffected, so that the equilibrium in the control conductor and its releasing organs is suspended and the corresponding branch is cut off from the remainder of thenet. A change of the tension line d1 and the consequent disconnection ofthe branch will also talre place` in case apuncture occurs between the main conductor and control conductor.

Fig. 4 illustrates the way in which the artificially produced potential displacement between the main and control conductors, depending upon the normal working conditions of the main conductor, may practically be utilized for disconnecting defective branches. @and b indicate the main vconductor and control conductor respectively which are connected at their ends as Vat 7c. h1 and h2 are the primary coils and vsecondary coils respectively of the transformers'i which transmit the influence of the main conductor upon the control conductor and produce the necessary potential displacement between both conductors. a indicates the switch which is actuated from Aa relay g Y through suitable connecting means 0. This relay may be inserted into the circuit in various ways according to the selection cf the potential displacement between the main and control conductors, it being shown as'simplc relay interpolated in the control conductor, although a differential relay may be used, one coil of which4 is connected to the main conductor, while its other coilis connected to the control conductor. The relay p is so adjusted that during normal operation, 1'. c., as long as the artificially produced equilibrium between the main andV control con-v ductors prevails, the switch n will not be actuated. As soon,v as a substantial change of the current conditions occurs in a branch ,owing to defective insulation,` etc., the relay g) is movedl out of its neutral position to actuate the switch n. The more sensitive-the adjustment of the relay may be, the sooner the defective branch will be severed'from the net beforethe insulation is completely punctured,V This arrangement requires however,r

that provisions be madecfor preventing normal changes of thecurrent conditions of a branch from influencing'the releasing organsor switches. By a' suitable construction of the transformers 7L and a sufficiently high potential-Ydisplacementlcaused by said transformers, a considerable sensitiveness may be obtainedlwhich lis to a high degree,

independentof thekind and place of the de fectgin thefbranch v With various switchingemembers; which `maygbe-V used in conjunction with Ythe dia-l gram illustrated in Fig. 1, (the sameV as the wiring diagram shown in -Figfe depends upon the diagram shown in Fion) Vthe charging currents tageously so sent ythrough the relays located at the junctionipoints o f the net, that the charging currents of all branches terminating at saidpoints cause the relays yto assume their equilibrium position las long as lthe working conditions are-normal. In this way.

the `control curre'entl flowing through each ybranch is utilized asagagefor the electrical conditionthereof.- With i the occurrence ofV defects, suchas` sparkl discharges, the strength and phase ofthe charging Y current V will be altered vand therrelays limiting the defective-'branch g will leave their neutral lposition Ato'V actuatethe *switches even before the' insulation isi completelyV destroyed., In orderto renderthe arrangement sensitive, the control conductor and the control current Vflowing therethrough lmay be Vmade still more independent Vof the v'aryingload of the main conductor, for instance 4by providing special transformers whichinduc'e,

e during normal operation from the mai-n conductor in the 'control branch, av current that is about proportional'to the main current,

said-induced current being equal Vand Voppo-l Y site to thecurrent flowing through the control conductor owing to the `difference in voltage between the ends of said conductor- (line c1 inthe above iigures). Such an Y arrangement would be a combination-of the feo,

diagrams shown in Figs. l and, 8. In this case also, the releasing organs 79 forming part'of the control conductor, may eithery Vdirectly or by means of :interpolated sepa# rate switching members cause thel operation of the main switches n, the arrangement beingpreferably such 'that when' disconnecting. the main conductor,the` rcontrol conductor is `also disconnected. Whenever a puncture-occurswithfawiring system based upon the diagram shown in Fig., l, it is apparent thatthe control current' ofv thev correspond'- a continuously flowing through Athe control conductors are advaning branch will increase in strength at both ends thereof and will beretarded inthe phase relatively to the charging current that normally leads the voltage by 90. In this way the equilibrium ofthe releasing relays p Vlocated at tie ends of this branch withrespectgtjo the practically unchangedcontrol currents of tlieadjoining branches of the same mainronductor, which control cur:

' rents vpass also through these relays, becomes vduringnormal operation within the coperating control conductor afpotential displacement byineans of which the Vreleasing organs of said branch are maintainedin equilibrium and in vcausing an operation of said organs upon an alteration of the normal potential 'displacement owing 'to' a defect said operation "effecting aldisconnection of the defective branch from .the net. V

1 2.- A method of automatically disconnect` yautomatically disconnecting iso ing defective branches from a network c of mains, each branch comprising a mainconductor and an equipotential` control -conductor, of a Y smaller cross section, which consists in causing Vthe mainconductor of each branchi to v-inductively produce during norial operation within the Vcooperating Ycontrol conductor a potential displacement by means of which the releasing organsof saidv branch are? maintainedy in equilibriurm and in causing:- an operation of Vsaid "organs'uponan. alterationy of the normal` potential displacement owing to a defect,'said operation effecting a disconnectionv of the defective branch-from*thefnet. n

3. 'Method ofY automatically disconnecting defective branchesV fromV a: network of Y electric mains, each branchV comprising a main conductor and a control conductor connected therewith electricallyv at the ends ofthe branch, which consists in inductively producing. within the control conductor, by the action of the main conductor'on every portion ofthe control conductor, a potential displacement which Y normally maintains in equilibrium lthe releasing .or cutout' Vorgans ofz saidbran'ch, and in-causing, upon the Y rising cfa Vdefect and the resulting alteration-ofthe normal potential displacement, such an operation ofsaid* organs as willi effect,` a disconnection Yof the defective branch vfrom then'et'. 1`

e. Method of4 automatically disconnecting defective branches from a network of electric mains, each branch comprising a main conductor and a control conductor disposed lengthwise of said main conductor from one end of the branch to the other and including portions controlling the releasing or cut-out organs of said branch, which consists in inductively producing within the control conductor, by the action of the current flowing through the main conductor, a potential displacement which normally maintains the said cut-out organs in equilibrium and connecting position, and in causing, upon the arising of a defect and the resulting alteration of the normal potential displacement, such an operation of said organs as will effect a disconnection of the defective branch from the network.

In testimony whereof he has hereunto affixed his signature in presence of two wit- 20 MARTIN HOCHSTADTER.

Witnesses HENRY HAsrER, WOLDEMAR HAUPT. 

